Winter Horse Ranch

Feb 9-15, 2025 - Sold Out

Join us on an exclusive horse ranch in the spectacular highlands of Wyoming! Graced with winter snow, you'll photograph the horses and the cowboys and cowgirls in action in a large variety of settings. We'll have plenty of creature comforts in a relaxed, idyllic Western homestead with all-inclusive fine dining, cocktail hours, and luxurious rooms. This workshop is rated Easy for physical exertion. Full model and property releases will be provided to all participants. Image critique and classroom sessions will be scheduled during our time together.

Tuition

$6250
All-Inclusive
Single Occupancy Lodging

Max Group Size

Max 14 Students
3 Instructors

Instructor(s)

Wendy Casey
A.J. Rich
Jed Weingarten

Physical Intensity

Highlights

Experience a true western classic at a private ranch in Wyoming!
Photograph the horses, cowboys, and cowgirls in prime winter conditions. Action-packed photo shoots are scheduled during the best light!
Enjoy the luxurious lodge, the mountain views, gourmet food, cocktail hours, and single-occupancy cabins.
With over 650,000 acres, we have many different areas to shoot the horses and models. Expect a lot of variety in locations and settings!
Transportation is provided between Cody, WY and the ranch.
Dates are timed for a few chances to capture the full moon!
Special outdoor portrait session with the models and horses.
Learn many new photo skills in the field. Indoor classes will be held to discuss photo techniques, post-processing, and image critiques.

Winter Horse Ranch Photo Workshop Full Moon

Itinerary

The exact itinerary will depend on the weather, group interest, and current conditions and may differ from what is presented below. Our goal is to get you the best photos and maximize your photography!

We have a large variety of shoots planned with the horses, the riders, and the models. Shoots can include river crossings, loose horses, running sequences, groups of riders, single riders, pan blurs, portraits, etc. Classes will be scheduled during the middle of the day to work on shooting techniques, post-processing methods, and image critiques.

Day 1: Pickups will begin after 1PM in Cody, WY. It takes a little over an hour to arrive at the ranch. After getting settled into our rooms at the luxurious lodge, we have our orientation session. That is followed by an all-inclusive cocktail hour and a gourmet dinner.
Day 2: We wake up early for breakfast and then head out before sunrise. With fresh snow on the ground, we get several passes of loose horses running in the early morning light. Next, we photograph some of the expert riders as they deftly maneuver their horses in front of dramatic backdrops. We return to the lodge for lunch and hold a class to review the photo techniques for the evening shoot. We then head out and photograph the cowboys, cowgirls, and horses in stunning landscapes in the golden sunset light. We finish the day at the lodge for cocktail hour and dinner.
Day 3: After an early breakfast we drive to an impressive location with red rock features reminiscent of the Southwest! We do several shoots with the horses and riders before heading back to the lodge. During the middle of the day we spend time photographing the tack shop and barn. That afternoon we have a special outdoor portrait session with many models and western concepts. We end the day photographing the cowboys and cowgirls around a campfire.
Days 4-5: We carefully selected our dates to capture the full moon with the riders! If skies are clear, we'll get them in best position for our lunar photos. As before, expect a lot of variety in the images and locations you capture. When time allows, we'll hold midday classes to supercharge your learning.
Day 6: It's hard to believe it's our last day together. We don't waste any time and we're out both early in the morning and again at sunset for our last shoots with the horses. That evening we have a special treat at cocktail hour where we'll invite all the wranglers and staff and show our favorite images in a slideshow!
Day 7: After breakfast, we pack our bags and make the drive back to Cody, WY. We recommend booking your return flights sometime after 12PM on the final day.

Logistics

Our goal is to capture the best images possible during our time together and this means starting before dawn and ending after sunset. Our in-field photography sessions will be pretty intense and we'll make sure you well versed on the shooting techniques before we go out.

We will have time to relax and enjoy the upscale cabins and western lodge when we return in the middle of the day. All meals will be prepared at the lodge by their acclaimed chef. The ranch can accommodate standard dietary restrictions such as gluten-free, vegetarian, etc but not vegan. A detailed questionnaire will be sent out to all registrants ahead of time to ensure we are prepared for your visit.

When we get closer to the dates, we will be emailing you detailed information for booking your flights along with checklists for clothing and gear to bring. A zoom meeting will be scheduled with all participants when we're 2-3 months out.

Temperatures can be cold in Feb but this is also what makes the photography so good this time of year with frost-lined trees, foggy meadows, and snowy landscapes! We will make sure you have the right gear to comfortably photograph in cold conditions.

If you have a laptop computer, bring that along since it makes it easy to back-up and review your images. Classes will be scheduled each day where we will cover a variety of post-processing techniques. The lodge has good internet and wifi speed.

We will email you specific camera gear recommendations after you register. A camera with a faster frame rate is recommended for best results. The most useful lens is a 100-400mm zoom telephoto followed by a 24-105 or 24-70 mid-range lens. Bringing a second camera body can be useful to avoid changing lenses as often. You can consider renting camera gear for the workshop if you don't have optimal equipment.

To account for possible winter weather delays, many of our participants decide to arrive a day early in Cody, WY. If you do so, you will be responsible for your own lodging arrangements. The Cody Hotel is one that we can recommend. United Airlines currently runs most flights in and out of the Cody Airport (COD). If you are driving in for the workshop, we'll give you the address of the ranch and you will meet us there instead of going through Cody. On the last day, we recommend booking flights out of Cody anytime after 12PM. Single occupancy is standard and there is no discount for double occupancy. However, if you want double occupancy you will be given one of the larger multi-room casitas.

Pricing

$6250/person + Tax

Trip Includes:

6 Nights Single-Occupancy Lodging at the Upscale and Spacious Ranch.
Horses, Riders, Cowboys, and Cowgirls for the photo shoots along with all model and property releases.
All Meals, Snacks, and Beverages.
Alcoholic Drinks During Cocktail Hour and Dinner.
Ground Transportation to/from Cody, WY.
All Tips, Gratuities, and Service Fees.
In-Field Photography Instruction
Post-processing and Image Critique
Pre-Workshop Zoom Meeting

Trip Does NOT Include:

Transportation to/from your home to Cody, WY
Lodging in Cody, WY if you decide to come in the day before or leave a day later.

When you complete the checkout process, you will be given the option to either pay the full amount or put down a 50% deposit. If you pay the deposit, the remaining amount will be due 120-days prior arrival. We will contact you to arrange final payment. See the full Terms and Conditions.

Note: For workshops such as this where the majority of the cost goes towards food, lodging, and ranch expenses, we can't offer the 10% loyalty discount.

Video by Instructor Wendy Casey

Portrait Session

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Wendy Casey

Photography Instructor

Wendy is proud to be a Utah Native and began hiking and camping with her parents at a very young age. She has many fond memories hiking to amazing viewpoints and taking in the grandeur that is Utah. Her interest in photography began in the 80’s where she made her film images come to life in a darkroom.

She now enjoys the creativity of the digital world by photographing a wide range of interests, from Landscape, Wildlife, Portraits, to Sports. Her favorite is capturing epic scenery with a human interest.

When Wendy and her husband Randy are not at home on their farm, they are out on a trail somewhere, exploring, photographing and creating videos of their adventures. Wendy has a lot of experience with horses on their ranch and will be an instructor on some of our wild horse and ranch workshops.

Over the years, she has participated in many art shows. Her local favorites are the Kimball Arts, Park City Art Festival and Midway Swiss Days. She has shipped her art around the world and has her work hanging throughout the state in hospitals, clinics and many large and small businesses. Her images have also been featured in and on the covers of local magazines.

Wendy loves to help others develop their passion for photography and capture through the viewfinder, winning scenes to last forever and an epic story to go with it.

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A.J. Rich

Photography Instructor

Ever since he was young, A.J. Rich has had a passion for all things visual. Growing up on the edge of St. George, Utah, he often sketched his favorite sports players and designed logos for his youth sports teams. A.J. also spent countless hours around his childhood home climbing rock mesas and exploring the unknown, including at nearby Zion National Park.

After graduating with a degree in graphic design from Brigham Young University in 2001, A.J. worked in the graphic design field for 20 years. In 2006 A.J. picked up a camera and, drawing on his art background, he has been a successful Getty Images contributor. In recent years he has focused on landscape photography—where his true passion lies.

Today the quest for the “timeless story” drives A.J. on all his outdoor adventures. While out in nature he seeks the ethereal and spiritual planes, and if he can capture them in a photograph, even better.

Currently A.J. works by day as a graphic designer and art director for BYU Brand & Creative, always dreaming of and planning for his next photography journey.